A FOUR-pointer, a try assist and a win alongside his Bathurst Panthers team-mates in the ANZAC Day Memorial Trophy match - Malik Blenman won't soon forget his debut in the Group 10 premier league competition.
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A product of the Bathurst Panthers Junior Rugby League system, Blenman was thrilled when offered a chance to make his top grade debut on the wing in the season-opener against St Pat's.
Thrilled and nervous.
"I knew it was a massive match so I knew I had to put in a big effort, especially being on debut," he said.
"I was ridiculously nervous, I had butterflies."
It was Blenman who crossed for the first try of the match at Jack Arrow Oval in an effort which highlighted his athleticism. He had to leap to take a pass above his head, manage to avoid going into touch while doing so, balance quickly after landing and ground the ball.
That try came 12 minutes out from half-time and triggered a huge momentum shift in the match. The game quickly went from an arm-wrestle at nil-all to Panthers leading 20-0.
In the second half the Saints lifted and again it was a physical grind for both sides, but Blenman did have a hand in another Panthers try.
After Panthers captain-coach Doug Hewitt put in a cross-field kick Blenman out-jumped his Saints' rival to knock the ball back inside to centre Keelan Bresac who scored.
Though the winger was annoyed he could not ice his performance with a second try, knocking on late in the second half after an overlap was created, Blenman still learned from the mistake.
"That first try, it was a good feeling," he said.
"I knew that one I had to catch, but the one down the other end, that's when I thought too far ahead, I was thinking about putting the ball down first before catching it."
The goal for Blenman now is to retain his starting spot on the wing for Panthers and add to the experience he got on Saturday night.
"The coach just before said I played unreal, so hopefully I can keep my spot," he said.
"I'm smaller than just about everyone else out there so I knew I had to put in a big effort. It's ridiculously amazing, it's good having the support of first grade there."
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